Ambitious plans revealed for Bootle’s Salt and Tar as Town of Culture bid grows

Bootle’s interest for Town of Culture status in 2028 will include significant investment in the popular Salt and Tar venue, with a high‑quality, multi‑use indoor events space alongside its existing outdoor facility.

A feasibility study carried out by Sefton Council exploring the future of Salt and Tar highlights the need for permanent, high‑quality infrastructure, development that would underpin Bootle’s ambition to secure Town of Culture status. This commitment will form part of the town’s Expression of Interest, demonstrating how Salt and Tar can support a stronger, more sustainable cultural offer for local communities with further investment in cultural infrastructure.

Developed alongside the growing outdoor space at Salt and Tar, a covered indoor venue would help deliver a stronger, year‑round cultural programme for Bootle. This flexible complementary facility would build on the huge success of Salt and Tar’s first full events seasons, which have quickly established the site as a focal point for residents and visitors and hugely changed the perceptions and profile of Bootle town centre. These facilities should also include rehearsal and recording spaces that support grassroots artists in Bootle, Sefton and beyond.

As part of the current redevelopment of Bootle Strand, the Salt and Tar site is being expanded and its capacity increased to circa 5,000 people. These improvements will be in place when events return to the town centre site following completion of the works.

This expansion, combined with permanent infrastructure and improved outdoor and new indoor facilities, will make bigger and more ambitious events possible in the years ahead. It will support a commercially sustainable and integrated programme of activity throughout the year, an important part of the Strand’s wider business plan and a key driver in positioning Bootle as a vibrant cultural destination.

As work progresses, the vision is for Salt and Tar to attract new visitors, support local businesses, and create more opportunities for communities to participate in the town’s cultural offer and physical transformation.

Salt and Tar’s future development will be a catalyst for wider regeneration, drawing footfall into the town centre while championing local talent. It will celebrate Bootle’s identity and further strengthen a year‑round events offer.

The long‑term ambition is for Bootle to continue building on its growing reputation as a town of culture, where creativity, participation, enjoyment and local pride help shape the next chapter of its story.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said:

“Salt and Tar has already shown what’s possible when we invest in culture, creativity and our communities. Our ongoing work reinforces the importance of creating the kind of permanent, high‑quality infrastructure that can support a year‑round programme and strengthen our Town of Culture ambitions for Bootle. Salt and Tar is becoming a catalyst for the event led regeneration of Bootle, and these plans mark another important step in shaping a vibrant, confident and proud future for the town.”